Officials Eyeing Vacant Lot

SMITHFIELD — Council members are considering the land that included a former ham smokehouse for an administration building.

Smithfield Foods razed one of the town's oldest ham smokehouses on Main Street about a year ago.

Now town officials are eyeing the vacant lot for more breathing room. They are talking to the Fortune 500 company about buying the property to build an administration building within five years.

This week, council members adopted 2005 and 2006 goals, which include developing a plan by March.

In 2001, Smithfield Foods bought the V.W. Joyner plant, where hams were hung and smoked since 1889. In 2002, local officials wanted to turn it into a ham museum, a tourism idea that became too costly. Smithfield Foods flattened the aging plant last year.

It is still too early to tell how to best use the land and how much it would cost, said Town Manager Peter Stephenson.

Stephenson envisions a two- or three-story building including retail space and offices for the town manager, the treasurer, and the planning and finance departments.

The development may also include space for a visitor center, Stephenson said.

Smithfield Town Hall, also the home of the police and fire departments, has felt the squeeze for years.

"We ran out of space here 20 years ago," said Smithfield Police Chief Mark Marshall, whose department mushroomed from nine officers in 1992 to 21 officers today. "And we will continue to grow."

About two years ago, the town had to rent several offices on Main Street for Stephenson, the town clerk, and planning, zoning and public utility officials. The Police Department moved into some of the freed-up space in Town Hall.

"But we are still crammed," Marshall said.

The Fire Department has looked for years for a new and bigger headquarter, another goal for the Town Council.

The ultimate goal remains for the Police Department to take over all of the old Town Hall. Marshall wants not only more space but also tighter control and security.

"You will find very few police departments where you have the kind of access to the building you have here," he said. "We are sharing this building for years now. It's been difficult." *

SMITHFIELD GOALS

2005

* Develop plan for vacant Joyner lot

* Find land for a new fire station

* Adopt a cash proffer study

* Support Jamestown 2007 Schoolhouse Museum project

* Finalize Pinewood Heights relocation grant project

2006

* Update comprehensive plan

* Work to recruit a hotel

* Complete significant portions of the Church Street beautification project